Damon Rause steps down as Derry boys basketball coach

Rause coached Derry for eight seasons becoming only the third coach at DA to coach eight straight seasons.

Eight years ago, Derry Area graduate Damon Rause applied for the daunting task of taking over the school's struggling boys basketball team.

The former three-sport standout athlete at DA, who also starred on the football field at Washington and Jefferson College, believed that he could improve and build the program into a perennial playoff contender. Despite countless hours of year around hard work, even giving up his post as an assistant football coach, Rause and his teams fell short of postseason berths in each of his eight seasons at the helm. After narrowly missing the playoffs this year, Rause said he believes the team has the tools to have a bright future.

On Friday, however, Rause announced that the future would not include him on the sidelines, as he told his players that he would resign for personal reasons, becoming only the third head coach at Derry to coach eight straight seasons. (Tom Esposito 1998-2006). Jim McClarren is the longest tenured Trojan lead mentor in its history.

“I thought this was the right time for me with everything I have going on in my life right now.” Rause said.

He is referring to taking over his father’s long time successful company Industrial Packaging in Blairsville. Rause also said he did not want to miss his two young sons Ty (6) and Levi (1) grow up, and it became hard for him and his wife Danielle to ensure they were devoting enough time to their families and jobs.

“I was pretty close with this senior class so it was a nice group to go out with.” Rause added.

Rause took over the program in 2010, inheriting the team from then head coach Dave Regula, who had gone just 11 and 79 in his four seasons, despite owning the last postseason appearance in 2008, as the Trojans sneaked in with a 5-17 overall record. In his first two seasons, Rause had five more wins than the past four seasons combined (16) and his teams brought some excitement back into the gymnasium, as teams knew coming in they would be in for a physical battle. He came within one section win of making the playoffs in two consecutive seasons (2013 and 2014) only to lose both times to Greensburg Salem. The first of those came on the road after Derry held a late fourth quarter lead.

“That first loss against Salem may have been the hardest I ever took a loss because we were so close and that was probably my most memorable team.” He exclaimed.

2014 through 2016 would be tough years for Rause and DA basketball as the team won just 2 games in that span, however a fresh group of young talent emerged in 2017, and led to a six win season, followed up by eight more in 2018.

“It was tough losing, but the kids always came to practice with good attitudes and that is all I ever wanted. We battled through everything together. It was tough at times because you would hear things from the outside and you could not avoid it. It comes with the coaching territory. I never coached for the parents, I coached for the kids. The negativity was there, but as long as I knew I was doing things the right way, it was good enough for me win or lose. I took a lot of pride in what we did and the kids are who kept me going” Rause lamented.

“What I will miss most are the relationships with my players. I stay in contact with so many of my former players and that is all part of why I coached. I am a competitive guy, and love practices and game planning. I will miss watching players develop into not only better players, but also nice young men.

DA Athletic Director Brett Miller understands the decision, but says the district lost a good coach.

“Damon poured his heart and soul into this program and we could not ask for more than that.” Miller said.

“We are saddened to accept his resignation, but I hope we can find a way to work him back into our athletic department down the road, because he is the type of high-quality individual we want coaching here.”

Miller said the district would move forward quickly in naming a replacement for Rause and his staff. He said they would like to have that person in place by the end of April to ensure a plan for summer workouts.

“It’s critical that we find the right candidate as soon as possible, especially because of our section realignment and having new teams coming in to prepare for.” Miller pointed out.

He believes the new realignment will benefit the Trojans the next two seasons at least, combined with a mix of depth and talent coming back.

Esposito, who was on the varsity staff the past two years, could be a prime candidate to come back as the new head coach. No word on whether he will apply for the position.

Rause finished his tenure with a record of (48-119), and says he will someday return to his alma mater to be involved in some type of coaching capacity.

I will be back at some point.” Rause added. “I am a Derry coach. I live here and I want to be involved, and this is the only place where I will coach. This was a dream job for me for the past eight years no matter what the record says.”